Tim Fitzgerald

The IFLR1000 2022 ranks Tim as a 'Rising Star' for restructuring and insolvency practice work.​ The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 ranks Tim as a 'Next Generation Partner' for dispute resolution and is recommended for restructuring and insolvency. Tim is regarded by a client as someone who provides "excellent advice regarding merits of disputes and strong tactical advice how to navigate disputes." He has been regarded as "an experienced litigator for lenders and insolvency practitioners of claims against debtors, directors, auditors, and insurers."

Tim is a Crown Property Accredited lawyer, with accreditation under the “Public Works Act - Acquisition and Compensation” category.

Tim was the only recognised lawyer for Restructuring and Insolvency in New Zealand in IFLR's Asia Future Leaders 2021.

Nathans Finance NZ Limited (In Recievership) proceedings
Acted for receivers for Nathans Finance in a series of High Court proceedings against the directors, auditors, and insurers of the company.

Regulatory investigations
Acted for corporate clients in responding to regulatory issues, investigations, and High Court proceedings. This includes advising on alleged price fixing and other anti-competitive conduct, allegations of breaches of the Fair Trading Act 1986, issues arising under the Takeovers Code, alleged breaches of the continuous disclosure regime, and alleged insider trading.

Claims against auditors
Acted for receivers of companies alleging negligence against their former auditors. This includes claims on behalf of OPI Pacific Finance, National Finance (2000), and Nathans Finance.

Interest rate swap investigation
Acted for a major bank responding to an investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1986 by the Commerce Commission into the sale of interest rate swaps.

Public Works Act advice
Advised public and private sector clients on issues arising from potential acquisitions under the Public Works Act 1981.

Bridgecorp Limited (In Receivership)
Advised the receivers and liquidators of various Bridgecorp entities in respect of recovery actions in Bridgecorp (In Recievership) v Certain Lloyd's Underwriters. This included appearing in the Court of Appeal on claims against its former insurance broker and pursuing claims to recover property for former Bridgecorp directors.

Strategic Finance Limited (In Recievership)
Acted for receivers of Strategic Finance on litigation under the Personal Properties Securities Act 1999, including appearing in the Court of Appeal in Strategic Finance (In Recievership) v Bridgman.

MediaWorks Group restructure
Advised on one of the largest debt restructures in New Zealand for MediaWorks, which raised complex legal issues for banks and directors. The company went into receivership in June 2013 as part of a structured arrangement to transfer assets to a new group.

Crafar Farms Judical Review
Acted for the Crafar Farms Independent Purchaser Group in its High Court and Court of Appeal cases seeking judicial review of the approval by the Overseas Investment Office and Government ministers of an application by a Chinese company, Shanghai Pengxin, to purchase 16 New Zealand dairy farms.